Precarity, non-standard forms of employment, and growing job insecurity were the focus of a discussion held on the occasion of the publication of the book The Age of Insecurity: Job Insecurity in Contemporary Society (Belgrade, Institute of Social Sciences, 2025) by Dr Jovana Zafirović, Research Associate at the Institute of Social Sciences. Participants examined the causes and consequences of job insecurity from different disciplinary perspectives, highlighting its significance both for workers’ positions and for the functioning of society as a whole.
Starting from the observation that precarity and growing job insecurity have become some of the defining features of contemporary European societies, the discussion addressed changes in labor markets and their broader social implications. In its broader sense, the concept of the precariat refers to a growing segment of the population characterized by unstable employment, insecure income, and limited access to labor rights.
At the core of Dr Jovana Zafirović’s book is the relationship between objective and subjective perceptions of job insecurity and the ways in which these dimensions interact. Contemporary labor markets are increasingly shaped by non-standard forms of employment that fail to provide long-term security, predictable income, or clear opportunities for career advancement, thereby contributing to wider economic and personal insecurity.
Presenting the findings of her research, the author pointed out that both objective and subjective perceptions of job insecurity in Europe increased during the economic crisis of 2008, but returned to their previous levels after the crisis subsided. At the same time, she devoted particular attention to different varieties of capitalism and the relationship between capitalist systems and labor. As emphasized during the discussion, capitalism simultaneously contributes to greater insecurity among workers while also depending on a stable and secure workforce for its own sustainability.
The economic dimensions of precarity were addressed by Mihail Arandarenko, Full Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade. He highlighted the conceptual complexity of the term precariat, noting that precarious jobs are not only insecure but are also typically associated with low income, whereas insecure jobs do not necessarily have to be precarious. As an example, he referred to part-time employment, which is often regarded as insecure but may not be considered precarious when it represents a voluntary and conscious choice of workers.
Reflecting on the situation in Serbia, Arandarenko noted that vulnerable employment has been declining since 2014, while the employment rate has been increasing, although not necessarily the total number of employed persons. He also emphasized that the subjective perception of job insecurity among Serbian citizens stands at 20 percent, significantly above the European Union average of 14 percent.
From the perspective of media studies and social theory, Igor Išpanović, Researcher at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, addressed precarity and insecurity within the field of journalism. Drawing on the results of his empirical research, he demonstrated through several examples the extent to which journalism exhibits structural characteristics of precarious work and suffers from the consequences of insufficient regulation of non-standard forms of employment.
Išpanović stressed that the lack of basic regulation of the media market, together with the broader political context in Serbia, negatively affects not only those employed in the media sector but society as a whole. Given the social role of journalists and the media in a functioning democracy, such conditions have consequences that extend far beyond the profession itself.
The event was organized as part of the series “Institute of Social Sciences Book Talks – Let’s Talk About…”, dedicated to publications issued by the Institute of Social Sciences. Through conversations with authors, the series presents research findings, explores their broader academic context, and highlights the relevance of particular topics for society and public policy. The series is edited by Dr Irena Ristić (ISS).
